Memorial plaque



Jan. 26, 1937. A. WAREMBOURG MEMORIAL PLAQUE Filed March 24, 19 36" 2Sheets-Sheet 1 u m "a m I 5 a w a y 3 a 7 J m a W m m 3 w w i 4 m F l y?a w M n H 8 5 W, A 5 U7, a Z {1/ ad m E, 7I|H| 7m g L Patented Jan. 26,1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to memorial plaques or frames of a type adaptedto provide an ornamental and sightly protective mounting or frame for alikeness of one whom it is desired to particularly remember, and has asan object to provide an improved construction for and an improvedarrangement of elements in such a plaque.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved ornamentalmemorial plaque arranged for convenient mounting, replacement andsubstitution of a picture or likeness therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved ornamentalmemorial plaque so arranged as to fully and completely protect a pictureor likeness associated therewith from deterioration occasioned bymoisture, dust, insects, or action of the elements.

A further object of the invention is to pro-- vide an improvedarrangement of permanent ornamental features in a memorial plaque.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means formounting and positioning a picture or likeness in suitable relation withthe ornamental features of a memorial plaque.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangementfor the cooperative association of a memorial plaque with a monument orgrave marker.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for theremovable and re placeable mounting of an ornamental memorial plaque.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved combinationof memorial plaque and mounting means therefor.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved ornamentalmemorial plaque designed to display and protect a desired picture orlikeness, which plaque is susceptible of display and mounting in avariety of specific manners and of construction in an infinite varietyof specific forms, sizes, and arrangements of ornamental details.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combinationof elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims, andillustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which 50 Figure l is aperspective view of a conventional grave marker wherewith is associatedmy improved memorial plaque in its improved mounting. Figure 2 is adetail cross section, on an enlarged scale, taken on the vertical medianline 55 of the plaque mounting shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is afragmentary, detail plan of the plaque mounting shown in Figures 1 and2, with its cover element removed. Figure 4 is a Vertical section of thecomplete plaque mounting taken on the indicated line 4-4 of Figure 3.Figure 5 5 is a cross section through the plaque mounting taken on theindicated line 5-5 of Figure 4. Figure 6 is an elevation of the improvedmemorial plaque as arranged for practical use in one specificembodiment. Figure '7 is a cross sec- 10 tion taken on the indicatedline 'I-'I of Figure 6. Figure 8 is a longitudinal section taken on theindicated line 8-8 of Figure 7. Figure 9 is a longitudinal section takenat right angles to the showing of Figure 8 and on the indicated line 159-9 of the latter figure. Figure 10 is an elevation, on an enlargedscale, of the reticule or picture holding and positioning means employedwith the improved plaque. Figure 11 is a detail section taken on theindicated line II-Il of Figure 10. Figure 12 is an elevation, on areduced scale, illustrating a specific form of mounting for convenientinterior display of the improved plaque.

In the construction of the improvement as 25 shown, the memorial plaqueassembly is illustrated as comprising a unitary mass or block of glass,or similar material, formed in any desired specific size and shape, inany suitable manner and indicated by the numeral IS. The plaque unit I5is characterized by a transverse plane I 6 disposed in spaced, parallelrelation with the base of said unit during manufacture of the latter,which plane supports ornamental features, such as floral arrangements,wreaths, 5 designs, pictorial features, and the like, preferably incolor and arranged for ornamental display through the front face of theunit l5. The plane l6 does not define a line of division be tweensections of the unit [5, but merely de- 40,

notes a position for the ornamental features of the unit, which latterare permanently associated with and incorporated in the said unit duringits manufacture, as is commonly the practice in the construction ofrelated devices formed of cast or moulded glass. The front face I! ofthe unit I5 is preferably convex both laterally and longitudinally, andmay be formed to a curvature having a lens effect operable to magnify orenhance the display of the ornamental and pictorial features employedwith the unit.

The unit l5 may be provided with a continuous shallow recess or grooveabout its periphery wherein may be permanently seated and secured anornamental metallic band l8 thus disposed in encircling relation withthe unit, which band may conveniently be provided with suitable ears orlugs 9 whereto may be secured the ends of an ornamental chain 20, orequivalent device, to thus provide convenient means whereby the unit lmay be suspended from a suitable support on a wall or other mounting.The unit I5 is formed with a cylindrical aperture or recess 2| openingthrough and in axially perpendicular relation with the rear face or baseof said unit and extending within the unit to coincidence of its innerend with the plane IS. The recess 2| is preferably positionedsubstantially centrally of the unit l5 and is disposed to pleasinglycooperate with and to be encircled by the ornamental features disposedon the plane I6, said ornamental features thus constituting an artisticframe for the aperture defined by the inner end of the recess 2|. Theouter end of the recess 2| is preferably formed as a threaded bore 22 ofenlarged diameter, and spaced grooves 23 preferably extend axially alongthe walls of the recess 2| from said threaded portion 22 toward theinner end of the recess.

To provide convenient means for the removable and replaceableassociation of a picture or likeness with the unit l5, a picture-holdingreticule assembly is provided for removable and replaceable associationwith the recess 2| of said unit, said reticule assembly comprising acylindrical body portion 24 of any desired specific material andconstruction, which body portion is of a size to be freely receivedwithin the recess 2|, longitudinal ribs 25 being formed or provided onthe exterior of the body portion 24 and spaced on the latter to engagewithin the grooves 23 of the recess 2| and thereby prevent rotation ofthe reticule assembly within its recess mounting. The forward end of thebody portion 24 is preferably reduced somewhat in diameter andterminates in a plane, circular surface perpendicular to the axis of theassembly, against which surface a picture or likeness 26 may bepositioned, an apertured cap 2'! being provided to telescope over thereduced end portion of the reticule body for engagement of its annularflange against outer margins of the picture 26 to clamp the latter inthe desired position against the end of the reticule body, suitablebayonet type grooves 28 formed in the cap '21 being arranged to engageabout pins 29 fixed in the reduced end of the reticule body 24 to locksaid cap 21 to the reticule body in clamping relation with the picture26 carried thereby. The outer end of the reticule assembly may beprovided with a radially extending flange 30 adapted to seat against thebase of the threaded bore 22 and thereby limit inward travel of thereticule assembly relative to the unit I 5, and a suitable loop orhinged handle 3| may be provided on the outer end of the reticuleassembly to aid in the removal and replacement of the latter relative tothe unit I5. The flange 3D is not an essential, since inward travel ofthe reticule assembly may be limited by engagement of the cap 21 withthe inner end of the recess 2|. To hold the reticule assembly in thedesired relation with the unit I5 and to protect the picture 26 frommoisture, dust, and the like, a threaded plug 32 is provided to engagewithin and close the threaded bore 22 of the recess 2|, said plug 32closing over and bearing against the outer end of the reticule assemblyand serving to clamp the latter with the picture 26 closely adjacent theplane l6 and to fully close and seal the outer end of the recess 2|.

The arrangement above described constitutes a complete memorial plaquewherein a desired picture or likeness may be removably positioned inpleasing association with the ornamental features of the plaque, andwhich is available for such mounting or disposition as may be desired,the picture or likeness being advantageously displayed through theconvex face of the unit and being fully protected by virtue of itsposition within the unit I5 and the sealing means provided by the plug32, removal and replacement of the picture 26 being convenientlyaccomplished through the construction and relation of elements shown anddescribed.

The improved memorial plaque is particularly adapted for permanentassociation with monuments, grave markers, and the like, and to that endmay be combined with a suitable holder, such as is shown in Figures 1 to5, inclusive. In these latter figures, a grave marker is conventionallyindicated by the numeral 33 in supporting relation with a holderassembly especially adapted to receive and mount the memorial plaquepreviously described. The holder assembly is illustrated as comprising aunitary shell 34 formed of any suitable material in any convenient manner to provide a rear plate, side portions contoured to embracinglyreceive a plaque unit I 5, an open front face bounded by relativelynarrow marginal flanges positioned to engage over side margins of a unitl5, and an open top wherethrough a unit I 5 may be inserted within orremoved from the shell 34. A suitable cover or cap 35 is provided toclose the upper end of the shell 34, said cap preferably having a rearmarginal flange 36 adapted to seat in a groove formed transversely inthe upper end of the rear wall of the shell 34 and a depending frontflange 31 adapted to be received between and cooperate with the frontmarginal flanges of said shell 34, said cap and shell thus cooperatingto embracingly receive and house a unit IS with its front face exposedfor suitable display of the features characterizing a given plaqueassembly. The shell 34 may be supported in any suitable or desiredmanner on and relative to the marker 33, one means satisfactory for suchmounting being illustrated as comprising a bolt or stud 38 permanentlyseated in any suitable manner in the marker 33 and provided with athreaded exterior end adapted to be received through a hole formed inthe rear wall of the shell 34, a nut 39 cooperating with the threadedend of the bolt or stud 38 to clamp the shell 34 to the marker 33, saidnut 39 preferably seating in a counterbore or recess of the shell wall,as shown.

Since many changes, variations and modifications in the specific form,construction, design, arrangement and combination of elements shown anddescribed may be had without departing from the spirit and principle ofmy invention, I wish to be understood as being limited solely by thescope of the appended claims, rather than by any details of theillustrative showing and foregoing description.

I claim as my invention- 1. A memorial plaque comprising a unitary blockof transparent material, an ornamental plane transversely of said block,a recess communicating between said ornamented plane and the rear faceof said block, and removable and replaceable means cooperating with saidrecess for the display of a picture likeness in intersecting,substantially coplanar relation with said ornamented plane.

2. A memorial plaque comprising a unitary block of transparent material,an ornamented plane transversely of said block, a recess communicatingbetween said ornamented plane and the rear face of said block, an insertassembly arranged for removable and replaceable association with saidrecess, and means for mounting a picture likeness on one end of saidinsert for display in intersecting, substantially coplanar relation withsaid ornamented plane.

3. A memorial plaque comprising a unitary block of transparent material,an ornamented plane traversing said block in spaced, parallel relationwith the rear face thereof, a cylindrical recess intersecting saidornamented plane at one end and opening through the rear face of saidblock, a cylindrical insert assembly slidable in said recess, meansoperable to clamp said insert in said recess and to close the outer endof the latter, and picture likeness mounting means on the inner end ofsaid insert.

4. A memorial plaque comprising a unitary block of transparent material,an ornamented plane traversing said block in spaced, parallel relationwith the rear face thereof, a cylindrical recess intersecting saidornamented plane at one end and opening through the rear face of saidblock, an insert assembly slidable in said recess, ribs on said insertcooperating with grooves in the walls of said recess to rotatively fixthe former relative to the latter, removable means operable to clampsaid insert within said recess and to close the outer end of the latter,and picture likeness mounting means on the inner end of said insert.

5. A memorial plaque comprising a unitary block of transparent materialformed with a convex frontal surface and an ornamented plane in spaced,parallel relation with its rear face, a cylindrical recess intersectingsaid ornamented plane at one end to define a circular opening thereinand communicating through the rear face of said block, a cylindricalinsert assembly nonrotatably slidable within said recess, a plugthreadedly engaging the outer end of said recess and adapted to clampsaid insert therein, and

picture likeness mounting means on the inner end of said insertassembly.

6. A memorial plaque comprising a unitary block of transparent materialformed with a convex frontal surface and an ornamented plane in spaced,parallel relation with its rear face, a cylindrical recess intersectingsaid ornamented plane at one end and opening through the rear face ofsaid block, and removable and replaceable means adapted to position apicture likeness in intersecting, substantially coplanar relation withsaid ornamented plane, said means comprising a cylindrical insertreceivable in said recess, ribs on said insert engageable with groovesin said recess to rotatively fix the former relative to the latter, aremovable cap on the inner end of said insert adapted to position andclamp a picture likeness on said insert end, and a threaded plugremovably. closing the outer end of said recess in clamping relationwith said insert.

7. In a memorial plaque comprising a block of transparent materialformed with an ornamented plane in spaced, parallel relation with itsrear face and provided with removable and replaceable means for thepositioning of a picture likeness in intersecting, display relation withsaid ornamented plane, a shallow, continuous groove encircling sidemargins of said block, an ornamented metallic band fixed in said groove,and suspension means engaging said band for the mounting of said plaquein depending relation with a fixed support.

8. The combination with a memorial plaque comprising a unitary block oftransparent material formed with a transverse, ornamented plane andprovided with removable and replaceable means for the positioning of apicture likeness in intersecting, display relation with said ornamentedplane, of an open-front casing adapted to receive and support saidblock, a removable and replaceable cover element for one end of saidcasing, and means for mounting said casing in fixed relation with asuitable support.

ARTHUR WAREMBOURG.

